NORWOOD top-ager Elke Cameron is setting herself to crack into the national championships squad after missing out on the Croweaters’ final 30 as a bottom-ager last year. Now with another season of development under her belt, Cameron will look to make every post a winner in 2026.
We spoke to Cameron at the recent South Australian Preseason Testing Day where she told us about her football journey, game, rolemodels and goals for the year ahead.
Q: Elke, give us a rundown into your footy journey?
EC: “I started when I was Under 9s. My brother played so obviously I wanted to play as well. I played with the boys at Athlestone for three or four years and then the girls comp was a couple of years older than me so I moved to Hectorville where they had one that was my age which was Under 13s. Then played there ever since and then started the Under 14s Development at Norwood, went through that up until last year and then did State Under 16s and moved in the same year in 2024 did seniors at Norwood as well.”
Q: What’s your favourite position to play at the moment?
EC: “I would say probably midfield and then rotating into that small forward so I can get in both those areas because I think I can use my abilities well there.”
Q: What do you see as some of the strengths in your game?
EC: “I think skills are quite accurate. I can kick those short 45s really well. I think using my speed to clear the ball too.”
Q: What about your improvements?
EC: “Probably being a small player not taking those marks, getting those good enough for what they need to be, I think that’s a weakness in my game.”
Q: Which AFLW club do you support?
EC: “Definitely the Crows. I was before the AFLW, my dad goes for Crows so naturally I went for them as well. But when they came into the AFLW I went for them. Couple of premierships, that’s cool to watch.”
Q: Which player do you look up to or model your game on?
EC: “From the Crows someone like Teah Charlton or Hannah Munyard. They play in the midfield a bit and up forward, and they’re bit of smaller players, they’ve got super quick speed.”
Q: What goals do you set for yourself this year?
EC: “This year I really want to get consistent. I didn’t make state last year so to make it this year would be really cool, and also to get consistent League games and also to perform in those games as well.”
Q: How do you think Norwood will go this year?
EC: “Hopefully really good. We’ve got Rex (Ben Hunt) as a new coach. I think the way he’s set up our preseason has been really good and hopefully setting us up for success. We’ll see how the trial games go, but really excited to see what happens.”
